It is estimated that 5,000 British children may
have been taken into care over the past 15 years as a result of Professor
Meadow’s theory of Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy.The theory that some
mothers harm their children to draw attention to themselves has been
largely discredited as a result of a series of high-profile court cases.

Prof Meadow's theory has been discredited as a result of three cases in
which he gave evidence of women who were wrongly accused of killing their
children.

Prof Meadow is now facing an inquiry by the General Medical Council into
allegations of serious professional misconduct.

The attorney general Lord Goldsmith is now examining a further 250
criminal cases involving Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy to see if more
mothers may have been wrongly convicted.